Road signs



June 14, 1955 T. E. HYNEK ROAD SIGNS Filed Dec. 8, 1952 INVENTOR United States Patent fiflce 2,710,474 Patented June 14, 1955 ROAD SIGNS Thomas E. Hynek, Sacramento, Calif.

Application December 8, 1952, Serial No. 324,723

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-125) The present invention relates to a road sign and it consists in the combinations, Constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a road sign which may be collapsed and folded and stored in a convenient place within an automobile but which, when it is desired or necessary to use the same it may be folded outwardly to display the word danger or other like expression and which is provided with a pivoted base which may be extended to support the same, the base having ground-engaging pointed ends and the sign itself being provided at one of its sides with a ground engaging pointed portion. The use of the device is such that an autoist may utilize the same by placing it a sufficient distance away to warn oncoming traflic when it is necessary for such autoist to repair his car or for any other reason when such car must be parked partially upon a roadway.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means whereby the same may be folded into a minimum of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel ground-engaging supporting means forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a device of the character set forth comprising an elongated relatively narrow horizontally extending base having integrally formed at each end thereof a downwardly extended pointed portion 11, which portions 11 form ground-engaging cleats.

Spaced from one end of the base 10 and pivoted to such base by means of a rivet 12 is a horizontally extending flange 13 which is formed integrally with the lower edge of a lower sign panel 14 which extends upwardly and vertically therefrom. It will be seen that the rivet 12 extends through that portion of the flange 13 corresponding with a similar portion of the base 10 so that when the base 10 is turned with respect to the flange 13 the end portions of the base 10 will register with the end portions of the flange 13.

Integrally formed with the upper portion of each side of the panel 14 is a forwardly extending car 15 each of which is hingedly connected by means by a rivet 16 to a like ear 17 formed integrally with the lower portion of each side of an upper sign panel 18. Extending downwardly from the rear face of the upper panel 18 is a stop member 19 which is adapted to abut against the rear face of the panel 14 when the panel 18 is extended in a plane identical to the plane of the panel 14 as shown, for example, in Figure 1. That end of the flange 13 which is removed from the rivet 12 is downturned and pointed to form a ground-engaging cleat 20 shown in Figure l. The panel 18 is provided adjacent its upper end with a pair of openings 21.

In operation, it will be apparent that when the device is in opened condition as shown in Figure 1 that the front faces of the panels 14 and 18 together will display indicia such as the word danger shown at 22 in the drawing. When in such opened condition, it will also be seen that the cleats 11 and 20 will act to engage the ground to maintain the sign against falling and that the dog 19 or stop member will maintain the panels 14 and 18 in substantial vertical alignment. When, however, it is desired to store the device, it is only necessary to rotate the panel 18 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, for example, until the same assumes the dotted line position shown in such figure after which the base 10 may be revolved until the same registers with the flange 13 whereupon the device may be stored in a minimum of space. It will also be apparent that the device may be suspended upon suitable nails or other hanger elements by utilizing the holes 21 for such purpose.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising an elongated relatively narrow base, a lower vertically extending sign panel having a horizontal flange formed at the lower edge thereof, said flange being pivoted adjacent one of its ends to said base at a'point on said base of equal distance from one end of said base as said pivotal point of said flange from its adjacent end, said flange and said base adapted to be pivoted one upon the other to collapse the device and upper sign panel hinged at its lower end portion to the upper end portion of said lower sign panel, a dependent ground-engaging cleat formed in tegrally with each end of said base, a dependent cleat formed integrally with that end of said flange remote from its pivoted point, said panels having pivot ears upon the opposite ends thereof and a pivot rod extending through said ears, said panels having horizontal edges cooperating with one another when the panels are extended for display.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

